WAFCON 2026: Morocco’s late winner shows Atlas Lionesses’ strength – Jorge Vilda

Morocco coach Jorge Vilda says his side’s physical strength and belief were decisive factors in their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Algeria in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Sanaa Mssoudy’s 84th-minute strike secured all three points for the Atlas Lionesses in Thursday’s Group A encounter in Rabat, strengthening the hosts’ hopes of finishing top of the group.

Speaking after the match, Vilda praised his players for maintaining their intensity until the closing stages and highlighted the role of the home supporters in helping Morocco secure a second consecutive clean sheet.

Morocco overcome stubborn Algeria defence

Vilda acknowledged that his side faced a well-organised Algerian team that made life difficult for the tournament hosts.

He said Algeria’s defensive discipline, compact midfield and impressive goalkeeping performance prevented Morocco from creating clear opportunities for large parts of the game.

The Spanish coach admitted that his players struggled to move the ball quickly enough during the first half and found it difficult to break down Algeria’s defensive structure.

However, he believes Morocco improved significantly after the interval by increasing the tempo and bringing greater energy to the midfield.

Late goal rewards Morocco’s persistence

Vilda said the winning goal was the result of Morocco’s determination and superior fitness levels in the final stages of the match.

The coach stressed that his players never lost faith in their ability to find a breakthrough and deserved their victory after dominating the closing minutes.

He also praised the fans at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, describing their support as one of the key factors behind Morocco’s success.

Chebbak’s return boosts hosts

Vilda highlighted the return of captain Ghizlane Chebbak as another positive outcome from the match after the midfielder played around 30 minutes.

According to the coach, Chebbak’s introduction brought greater composure and balance to the team during a tense contest.

While expressing satisfaction with his squad’s overall performance, Vilda insisted there is still room for improvement as Morocco continue their campaign.

Atlas Lionesses target top spot

Attention now turns to Morocco’s final Group A match against Senegal on Monday, 3 August, at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Vilda said his team will approach the encounter with the objective of securing victory and finishing at the top of the standings.

The coach added that his technical staff will assess the physical condition of the players over the coming days before selecting the squad for the decisive fixture.